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Friday, July 03, 2009

Eau de...? Prize Draw

At the Perfume Expo America I had a pleasure to have a scent custom made for me by the très charmant and très patient François Hénin of Jovoy. Here he is, measuring, diluting and bottling.

The scent is a blend of rose, patchouli, amber, vanilla, woods...and a "secret ingredient" that smells oily, waxy, slightly salty, and which gave the fragrance its slightly retro, powdery-snaky base. M. Hénin described the perfume as "animalic and a little bit masculine". I would describe it as unequivocaly feminine, softly-skanky, glamorous slash comforting. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to name my scent. The author of a winning entry, chosen by moi, will receive a set of 30 samples, also chosen by moi, and I promise they will be quite exciting. The draw is now closed.

In the meantime, the winner of the Guerlain Les Voyages Olfactifs sample draw is Tammy. Please send us your address using the contact link on the right.

Have a fabulous July 4th weekend, everybody!

Labels: ,

131 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Names for the custom frag:

fierce
rouge
apropos
terra rosa
oiseau
romaine (after Romaine Brooks, an amazing, tough but classy and classic painter whose work I love)

How exciting to have a custom blend! I can't wait to hear what you name it!

fountaingirl (at) gmail (dot) com

1:17 AM EDT  
Blogger Datura5750 said...

It can only be called....Thalassa
You have described a haunting fragrance drifting over the sea...

1:30 AM EDT  
Anonymous Romain said...

B'Eau :)

1:49 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmmmmm, powdery-snaky and softy-skanky...so I will propose "Inanna." Your custom scent sounds lovely!

2:46 AM EDT  
Blogger popcarts said...

Marinara Sauce! I keed! I'm thinking...

3:06 AM EDT  
Blogger popcarts said...

Okay, all thought out. I'm going with Snake Charmer (see this reference -- it's fascinating) http://tinyurl.com/lanna7

OR Red Cobra (Naja Pallida) which actually does exist. Crimson Cobra is also nice, or Cobra Rouge, but I like the impact of just plain Red Cobra. Here's a look at the beauty:
http://tinyurl.com/nsv543

3:31 AM EDT  
Anonymous leopoldo said...

Tueur de serpent
Charmeur de serpent
хороший запах

xxx

3:39 AM EDT  
Blogger popcarts said...

Of course you could also soften it -- Rose Cobra, Cobra Rose (please add the accent) or even Pink Cobra.

Okay, I promise I'm done now.

4:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Dixie said...

Evangeline (or Eau d'Evangeline).

5:14 AM EDT  
Blogger rebella said...

Chansons de Serpent Rouge maybe?

or Songs of the Crimson Cobra

or Lizard Rose or Hymn to the Sea Snake... Or Snake ´n Roses...

I tend to like long names on perfumes...

Anyway it sounds like a terrific experience, both the custom blend but also to whole event.

Best regards!

5:25 AM EDT  
Blogger krnszn said...

Wow, Marina! What fun to create your own scent. I'll go with a simple name - Seduction.

7:08 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about:

Serpentine

Serpentine Ambré

l'Eau Ciré

Have fun and I'm dead jealous!

Lovethescents

7:36 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Eau de Marina

It's you in the eau! Sound's gorgeous, just like you!!

-Kayliana

7:40 AM EDT  
Blogger thescentmuse said...

I would call the juice: Medusa. Definitely glamorous, slithering and wet.

One more: Black Mamba

8:10 AM EDT  
Blogger RusticDove said...

You have a lovely name with a lovely meaning. Marina is of Greek origin meaning 'from the sea'. In French 'a la mer' means 'by the sea' [and I love the idea of going with a French name for a perfume]. Therefore, how about - "Arome a la Mer"? This is fun! :-)

8:25 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another suggestion: Thais

8:25 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

marina,
I realized I shouldn't have put my email on the blog. How to remove it? Jill

8:30 AM EDT  
Blogger saralevy said...

Hi Marina--your custom scent sounds lovely. When I think of snakes I always think of their movements--I suggest Glissande. Cheers, Sara

8:44 AM EDT  
Blogger Alyssa said...

What? No Expo report? Having been deprived of my own visit by their screwy rescheduling I am very disappointed. *pouts* Nevertheless, I will think about a name on my walk with the dog--where all the best thinking happens--and report in momentarily.

8:46 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Slink.

9:35 AM EDT  
Anonymous dissed said...

??? I'm not anonymous, I'm dissed. "Slink."

9:37 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Fountaingirl,
Love Romaine and Oiseau!

9:51 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Datura5750,
Gorgeous name!!

9:52 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Romain,
That is very clever! Are you on a market for samples? :-)

9:53 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Chasarumba,
A Sumerian goddess? Great name.

9:54 AM EDT  
Blogger RusticDove said...

Ok - the more I thought about it, I realized as pretty as the name I suggested above is [;-)], it does give an aquatic impression that you may not want. Sooo - on the 'snakey' theme, how about "Arome a le Serpent". I also really like "Serpentine" - an actual word, but it also combines Serpent with Martine! Isn't that cool?!

9:56 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Popcarts
LOL at Marinara Sauce! I like Snake Charmer a lot.

9:56 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Lee,
well, that's it, I am going with хороший запах. As it describes it the best :-)

9:56 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Dixie,
I've always loved the name Evangeline

9:57 AM EDT  
Anonymous MBDevine said...

It sounds so very you.
Why not "Marina's Voyage"?

9:57 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Rebella,
Lizard Rose...hmm...maybe!

9:57 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Karin
Simple and perfect!

9:58 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Samantha,
L'Eau Ciré stood out straightaway.

9:59 AM EDT  
Blogger RusticDove said...

Something's wrong with my brain this morning - I confused Martine with Marina. Duh.

9:59 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Kayliana,
:-)) Easy and pretty, if I say so myself :-)

10:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

thescentmuse,
Ooh, Medusa sounds good!

10:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

RusticDove,
I have always been attracted by anything to do with the sea, probably because of the name :-) So I do love your suggestion.

10:01 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Anonymous,
I like Thais!

10:02 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Jill,
I deleted the comment with the email, and I do like the name Cleo!

10:02 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Sara,
Glissande! What a great word.

10:02 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Alyssa,
This promotion/exercise with Jovoy was truly the highlight of the expo. The rest was basically...stands, press materials, samples. Waiting for your suggestion!!

10:03 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Disses,
I love Slink!

10:04 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

RusticDove,
I like how Arome a le Serpent sounds!

10:04 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

MBDevine,
Marina's Voyage...why not indeed! I do suffer from a really bad case of wanderlust at the moment :-)

10:05 AM EDT  
Blogger elle said...

Don't want to be in the draw, but wanted to put in my vote for "Bashert" as a name. And the scent sounds brilliant! What a cool experience.

11:21 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

L,
If you were in a draw, this might win ;-))

11:22 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marilynn said...

I like Elle's name suggestion too. I don't want to be in the draw, but have always loved the word, "Bravura". Someone needs to make a perfume with that name. :-) How wonderful you've had a perfume created for you!!

12:46 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Marina,
I have not commented before, but I want to suggest Mélusine as a suitable name for this enticing fragrance. If you remember the medieval legend, she was a fairy who married a mortal,but insisted he never watch her bathe. When he disobeyed and discovered her scaly tail, she flew away.

12:47 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

M,
I love that word, it is so vibrant!

12:48 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Dear Anonymous,
I absolutely love your suggestion! It speaks to me on so many levels :-)

12:49 PM EDT  
Anonymous Nina Z. said...

What an exciting contest!

I love being called by my Russian nickname, so how about one of yours? I like Marishka best (with the Eau de). But there is also, of course, Marisha or Marinochka.

Can I make some more suggestions later in the day?

12:50 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Ninochka :-)
I love those too. Of course, make as many as you wish.

12:52 PM EDT  
Blogger Tammy said...

It is my dream to have a scent created for me!

How about some variation of "My Own" in French or Russian?

C'est le mien? How would it sound in Russian?

Or perhaps a sultry, mysterious name....Couvée?

Since it's a bit of you, maybe a litttle bit of your soul...

Morceau de mon âme?


Since there is the contrast of the skank and the glam, how about Déchiré ? Or Opposúx attirent? Maybe just Attirent?

(I am relying on Babelfish here, so pleae don't laugh!)

I worked at a company for several years that had Russian and Ukrainian partners, and I vaguely remember a word that meant a stylish or elegant woman...Atelnaya, or something like that?? I'd love to see a gorgeous, complex Russian name!

And Marina, I am SO excited about winning your generous draw, but I am having trouble with the link to contact you. I'm sure it's on my end, I am having email issues.

Is there another way to contact you?

1:04 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Tammy,
Great suggestions all!
Мой? Мои духи? :-) (Moj - my own?)
Elegantnaya? A sin elegant? :-)

I am sorry you are having trouble! The email is pstblog at yahoo dot com

1:08 PM EDT  
Blogger Tammy said...

Spaseebo!


Oooh...elegant sin! How fun that sounds! Peche elegant,?? :o)

1:14 PM EDT  
Blogger Alyssa said...

OK -- here's a few for now, following up on the deadly feminine, slightly retro angle. More to follow I'm sure. Please add all proper accent marks in your mind's eye:

Chanteuse
Fievre
La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Shantung
Hecate
Persephone

And of a slightly more watery origin:

Sirena (siren/mermaid)
l'eau dangereuse

2:50 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Alyssa,
the deadly feminine HAHAHA Love it!

La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Persephone
Sirena

Love all three. Let's start a line of perfumes. Called Deadlier Than A Male of the Species :-)

3:03 PM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

has nothing to do with you personally but going with the snake thing:

Souffle Viperine

4:10 PM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

Serpent Rouge

4:32 PM EDT  
Anonymous edwardian said...

I've always liked the sound of the name Tamora, she's the queen of the Goths in Shakespeare's bloodiest play, Titus Andronicus, and as deadly as they come.

5:23 PM EDT  
Anonymous Kismet said...

Sale fille

5:49 PM EDT  
Blogger popcarts said...

Okay, I lied. Here are a few more:


Ssssss

KiSssss

L'eSSS est Plus

L'eSSS est Mort (this is a kind of joke, but I like it :)

L'Eau d'eSSSS

SSSensuelle

Attar Fatale or Fatale Attar

Fatale Poudree

Sea Serpent

So Mariska

Sea Rose

Snake Oil

It's Not Snake Oil

Enough! That's not a name suggestion, that's a promise I probably won't keep ;)

6:31 PM EDT  
Blogger sean's jo said...

How about "boa"?

6:59 PM EDT  
Anonymous Hilary said...

Oh, these are all so wonderful. I love Melusine (or Melusina, of course), and Boa, and so many others. My first thought, and one I haven't been able to improve upon, is Persuasion. A word I always liked, and one I associate with femininity and even with snakes: the softness of the syllables reminds me of their sinuous movement, for some reason. Good luck in your search!

8:00 PM EDT  
Blogger snowcrocus said...

huile de serpent

or

parseltongue

8:46 PM EDT  
Anonymous Bevfred said...

The names being posted are great and the fragrance sounds lovely.
My choices are Sireen or Odalisque

11:08 PM EDT  
Blogger Scott said...

Oh my idea was Boa (but Sean's Jo beat me to it!)
Also
Le Chat Noir
l'Eau Sineaux (or in English Serpentine)
Sagesse (means both wisdom and discretion)

Congratulations on your new scent, what fun!

12:41 AM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

Oh my dear Marina...as I read I rave, and that makes me feel better. So, even if completely uncensored, here go a few ideas.

Bronze de Rose
Theodore trouvee
Enemiga
UltraMarina (in Spanish it means d'ailleurs)
Iseut s'enfuit

Mm...
I may add another...

6:20 AM EDT  
Blogger waftbyCarol said...

I think you should call your fragrance
" Mariniere "
I will read the other suggestions now....

6:33 AM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

And since we're in this most historical date, celebrate guys, all of you in that great and deep and passionate America.

Goutte Gothique
Alilla (In Hebrew, it means a plot, a narrative plot, but it has a hint of an aliteration with night)

6:38 AM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

Feu de Marine?

6:41 AM EDT  
Anonymous ScentRed said...

My offering:

Eau de Vison Elégant

I imagine it being worn with seamed stockings, gorgeous patent leather pumps, a mink coat and luscious red lipstick.

10:39 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Or maybe L'eau Pour Une Vison Elégante ;-)

11:15 AM EDT  
Blogger Prettywitty504 said...

That is so exciting! I have a bunch of ideas:
Wicked
Vipere
Dangerous
Seduction
Voodoo
Vixen
Vamp
Sirene
Temptress
Enchanteur
Ligeia
Kallisti
Kakia
Suadela
Circe
Neaera
Philyra (Greek godess of Beauty, Perfume, Healing and Writing!)
Lillith
Eve

11:25 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ascot X. (Channelling "My Fair Lady" at the horseracing event, exhorting her chosen thoroughbred runner to ... get a move on. Delicate and earthy.)

Have fun choosing a winner *and* wearing your bespoke scent. Cheerio,

Anna from Edinburgh.

1:08 PM EDT  
Anonymous Nina Z. said...

Some other suggestions:

In honor of the notes:

A Rose in Autumn
A Mortal Rose
Lalita (Sanskrit for beautiful, in honor of the patchouli and wood notes)

Words that perfume evokes:

Inexplicable
Sweet Disorder
Quintessence
Tumultuous
Ephemeral

2:23 PM EDT  
Blogger ScentScelf said...

How very fun for you to go through this process...and a carry-out version, no less! Presto, pronto. :)

Conjuring names for you...hey, there's one: Conjecture. Something we might form about you when catching your waft as you wear this perfume...

;)

2:44 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vipere Rose
or
Vipere Rouge?

Karen G.

2:57 PM EDT  
Anonymous Lavanya said...

The scent sounds gorgeous!
I am not feeling very creative naming-wise, but here are a few :

1. Sweet Sin
2. Venom
3. Poison and Roses
4. Poisoned Rose (ooh I like this!)
5. Dangerous Liasons

And now I have to fall back on a Bunuel film whose name could suit the perfume

6. That Obscure Object of Desire

And maybe

7. Belle de Nuit (or some variation of that- I don't speak French..:))

3:15 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bruja.
Takes no prisoners, and it means "witch" in Spanish.

quimerula.

3:41 PM EDT  
Anonymous Lavanya said...

oops! I meant Liaisons not Liason..

6:00 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A custom scent is so exciting:

I believe you are Russian (or Ukrainian) so something alluding to your heritage would be nice.

The way you describe it, it sounds like a festive scent.

How about: (sorry I don't have a cyrillic font):

vecherinka (party)
ocharovannii les/vecher (enchanted forest/evening)
charodeika (enchantress)

Thanks, Jen

4:13 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Cherchez la Femme" - Emma :)

4:37 AM EDT  
Blogger ScentScelf said...

Hey, let's go tres mod with a name for your new scent: "Woot" (That's it! There it is! What it is! You said it! Props! ...all in one silly little word. ;) )

No? Too trite? Feminine/soft skank/glam comfort (and perhaps a touch masculine, which maybe reads as confidence) deserves a more lasting name. Such as...

Cashmere Shrug
...because a shrug is both a kind of wrap, and a tossing off of care...

...or maybe...
Robe en Fleur Bois
...because it is your soft armor when going off beyond the flowered outskirts and into the animalic wood.

;)

Have fun...hope you are having a fabulous 4th weekend yourself!

1:29 PM EDT  
Blogger lilybp said...

Your scent sounds amazing!! I hope I can smell it sometime.

Saurian Beauty

7:14 PM EDT  
Blogger Andigirl said...

Depending on whether you want an Italian named scent: Diavolo Donna
or a
French named scent: Femme de Demon

10:21 PM EDT  
Blogger Andigirl said...

Depending on whether you want an Italian named scent: Diavolo Donna
or a
French named scent: Femme de Demon

10:22 PM EDT  
Blogger Flora said...

It sounds yummy, I am dying to know what the "secret ingredient" is!

I am going to go REALLY off the wall here and propose a couple of names that would evoke both sinuous serpents and the salty sea - Kerilia or Pelamis, two genera of sea snakes found in tropical waters. Yes, they are dangerous, but also beautiful, just the like the femme fatale you will be when wearing this perfume. :-)

1:41 AM EDT  
Blogger RusticDove said...

How in the world will you ever decide which great name to choose from this list?! There really are some incredible suggestions here! So, good luck with that. ;-)

8:43 AM EDT  
Blogger T-Rex said...

Is it too late to throw out a suggestion?

What about Naga? They are serpent goddesses of India who guard the treasures of the deep, which can be taken literally or metaphorically. Slinky, aquatic, powerful, protective, and potentially dangerous.

Here is a link if you want to read more.

9:50 AM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

And the most important thing in this mysterious game: how could we know what does it smell like? I leave, therefore, the fragrance aside, strangely, and think of your writing, and suggest Sous Marine...and a smile

1:29 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Tom,
I love the word Souffle, one of my favorite words :-)

1:33 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Amanda,
Gorgeous.

1:34 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

edwardian,
Yea! Deadly is good! :-)

1:34 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Kismet,
What a pretty name!

1:35 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

popcarts,
So Mariska- love that! :-))

1:35 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

sean's jo
nice and simple!

1:36 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Hilary,
Great, and the reference to Austin does not hurt either

1:36 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Jess Neiger,
parseltongue! yesss! :-)

1:36 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Bevfred
Love both!

1:37 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Natalie
Marin'eau is perfect!!

1:37 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Scott
I love the word "sagesse"

1:37 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Fabiana,
love all, and especially Iseut s'enfuit :-)

1:38 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

waftbyCarol
Great name! :-)

1:38 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Fabiana,
Alilla...LOVE it.

1:39 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

...and Sous Marine...but Alilla and Feu de Marine the most.

1:39 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

ScentRed
Mmmm, what a great image! :-)

1:40 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Anonymous
Everything sounds even better in French :-)

1:40 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Prettywitty504
Lillith I think would suit this scent very nicely.

1:41 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Anna from Edinburgh
Perfect! :-)

1:41 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Nina
A Mortal Rose...mmm, nice and goth :-)

1:42 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

ScentScelf
Conjecture...a cerebral name. Love it.

1:43 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Karen G.
Both are great.

1:43 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Lavanya
I would totally call a perfume That Obscure Object of Desire!

1:43 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

quimerula,
A great, powerful, sensual word!

1:44 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Natalie
Oh yes, I am! Hella is a great name. Hellas' Angels, LOL!!

1:44 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Jen
Charodejka sounds so pretty

1:45 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Emma
Perfection!

1:45 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

S,
Woot it is :-)))

1:46 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

J,
Saurian Beauty...You don't know just how perfect the word saurian is :-)) You can totally smell it. End of July, right?

1:47 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Andigirl
Diavolo Donna. Si!

1:47 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Donna,
He wouldn't tell what it is. Some amber blend :-)I like how Pelamis sounds.

1:48 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

RusticDove
I have no idea!! Too many really great suggestions.

1:48 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

T-Rex
I like how the word is short but has powerful, dangerous ring to it

1:49 PM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

Fabiana
I adore all your suggestions, thank you!

1:49 PM EDT  
Blogger sunnlitt said...

SweetFall

or

FallenLove

11:07 PM EDT  
Anonymous fabiana said...

How easy it is, all of a sudden, to become a cyber community, if just guided correctly, as you lead this, and when all participants are so respectfull of each other. I love this.

12:14 AM EDT  
Anonymous fabiana said...

respectful, and cooperative

12:17 AM EDT  
Anonymous JAntoinette said...

Inexplicably, the name Séraphine came to my mind...
Séraphine: burning ones, a name used for the heavenly winged angels surrounding the throne of God

6:32 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

this just came to me off the top of my head:

Poudre de Serpent

Anthony :)

10:52 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the name should be "coup de fouet".

will m.

4:40 PM EDT  

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